FabDigit

UP vs Vinyl Ester vs SMC vs BMC

Benchmark · 4 materials

Side-by-side benchmark of 4 polymer grades.

UP vs Vinyl Ester and 2 more: properties

UPVinyl EsterSMCBMC

Mechanical

Strength, stiffness, ductility and hardness at room temperature.

Elastic (Young's) Modulus

3.4 GPa0.49 Msi
3.3 GPa0.48 Msi
11 GPa1.6 Msi
11 GPa1.6 Msi

Shear Modulus

1.3 GPa0.19 Msi
1.2 GPa0.17 Msi
4.2 GPa0.61 Msi
4.2 GPa0.61 Msi

Bulk Modulus

4 GPa0.57 Msi
4 GPa0.58 Msi

Poisson's Ratio

0.35
0.36
0.3
0.3

Tensile Strength (Ultimate)

55 MPa8 ksi
84 MPa12.2 ksi
75 MPa10.9 ksi
42 MPa6.1 ksi

Elongation at Break

2%
5.5%
1.5%
0.5%

Compressive Strength

130 MPa18.9 ksi
115 MPa16.7 ksi
180 MPa26.1 ksi
160 MPa23.2 ksi

Compressive Modulus

3.4 GPa0.49 Msi
3.3 GPa0.48 Msi
11 GPa1.6 Msi
10 GPa1.5 Msi

Flexural Strength

95 MPa13.8 ksi
145 MPa21 ksi
180 MPa26.1 ksi
85 MPa12.3 ksi

Flexural Modulus

3.6 GPa0.52 Msi
3.5 GPa0.51 Msi
11 GPa1.6 Msi
10.5 GPa1.5 Msi

Shear Strength

48 MPa7 ksi
55 MPa8 ksi
50 MPa7.3 ksi
45 MPa6.5 ksi

Fracture Toughness (K_IC)

0.5 MPa·√m0.46 ksi·√in
0.85 MPa·√m0.77 ksi·√in

Izod Impact, Notched

16 J/m0.3 ft·lbf/in
30 J/m0.56 ft·lbf/in
550 J/m10.3 ft·lbf/in
75 J/m1.4 ft·lbf/in

Hardness, Shore D

85 Shore D
88 Shore D

Hardness, Rockwell M

98 HRM
105 HRM
100 HRM
100 HRM

Physical

Density and transition temperatures.

Density

1.2 g/cm³0.04 lb/in³
1.13 g/cm³0.04 lb/in³
1.85 g/cm³0.07 lb/in³
1.85 g/cm³0.07 lb/in³

Glass Transition (Tg)

90°C194 °F
120°C248 °F
115°C239 °F
120°C248 °F

Water Absorption (24 h)

0.25%
0.15%
0.2%
0.15%

Water Absorption (Saturation)

1.2%
0.8%
0.7%
0.6%

Refractive Index

1.55
1.55

Light Transmission

85%

Thermal

How each material carries heat and how hot it can run.

Thermal Conductivity

0.19 W/m·K0.11 BTU/hr·ft·°F
0.2 W/m·K0.12 BTU/hr·ft·°F
0.25 W/m·K0.14 BTU/hr·ft·°F
0.6 W/m·K0.35 BTU/hr·ft·°F

Specific Heat Capacity

1,300 J/kg·K0.31 BTU/lb·°F
1,300 J/kg·K0.31 BTU/lb·°F
1,200 J/kg·K0.29 BTU/lb·°F
1,100 J/kg·K0.26 BTU/lb·°F

Thermal Expansion (CTE, 20–100 °C)

100 µm/m·K55.6 µin/in·°F
60 µm/m·K33.3 µin/in·°F
25 µm/m·K13.9 µin/in·°F
25 µm/m·K13.9 µin/in·°F

Max Service Temperature (continuous)

85°C185 °F
95°C203 °F
130°C266 °F
150°C302 °F

Heat Deflection Temp. @ 0.45 MPa

90°C194 °F
120°C248 °F
240°C464 °F
250°C482 °F

Heat Deflection Temp. @ 1.8 MPa

72°C162 °F
105°C221 °F
215°C419 °F
220°C428 °F

Limiting Oxygen Index

19%
21%
25%
24%

Max Service Temperature (short-term)

130°C266 °F
120°C248 °F
180°C356 °F
200°C392 °F

Same in both: Min Service Temperature -40°C-40 °F

Electrical

Conductivity and insulation.

Electrical Resistivity

1×10¹² Ω·m3.94×10¹⁹ µΩ·in
1×10¹³ Ω·m3.94×10²⁰ µΩ·in
1×10¹¹ Ω·m3.94×10¹⁸ µΩ·in
1×10¹² Ω·m3.94×10¹⁹ µΩ·in

Dielectric Strength

17 kV/mm432 V/mil
17 kV/mm432 V/mil
15 kV/mm381 V/mil
14 kV/mm356 V/mil

Dielectric Constant (1 MHz)

3.2
3.3
4.8
4.6

Volume Resistivity

1×10¹⁴ Ω·cm
1×10¹⁵ Ω·cm
1×10¹³ Ω·cm
1×10¹⁴ Ω·cm

Surface Resistivity

1×10¹⁴ Ω
1×10¹⁴ Ω
1×10¹³ Ω
1×10¹³ Ω

Comparative Tracking Index (CTI)

600 V
550 V
600 V
600 V

Same in both: Dissipation Factor (1 MHz) 0.02

Chemical & Environmental

Corrosion and environmental resistance (0–100 scores).

Corrosion Resistance

50 / 100
85 / 100
70 / 100
70 / 100

UV / Weathering Resistance

40 / 100
45 / 100
55 / 100
60 / 100

Manufacturability

FabDigit workshop ratings (0–100 scores) — how each material behaves on the machine.

Machinability

55 / 100
55 / 100
30 / 100
35 / 100

Weldability

5 / 100
5 / 100
5 / 100
3 / 100

Formability (cold)

5 / 100
5 / 100
5 / 100
3 / 100

Polishability

65 / 100
60 / 100
45 / 100
40 / 100

Mold Shrinkage

2%
2%
0.1%
0.15%

Mold Temperature (typ.)

25°C77 °F
40°C104 °F
150°C302 °F
160°C320 °F

Processing Melt Temperature (typ.)

35°C95 °F

Sustainability

Primary-production footprint per kilogram.

Embodied Energy (primary production)

70 MJ/kg30,095 BTU/lb
80 MJ/kg34,394 BTU/lb
60 MJ/kg25,795 BTU/lb
55 MJ/kg23,646 BTU/lb

Embodied Carbon (primary production)

3.4 kg CO₂/kg
5 kg CO₂/kg
3.2 kg CO₂/kg
3 kg CO₂/kg

Embodied Water

180 L/kg21.6 gal/lb
200 L/kg24 gal/lb
180 L/kg21.6 gal/lb
120 L/kg14.4 gal/lb

Same in both: Typical Recycled Content 0%

Common Calculations

Ratios derived from the values above.

Specific Strength (UTS / density)

46 kN·m/kg
74 kN·m/kg
41 kN·m/kg
23 kN·m/kg

Specific Stiffness (E / density)

2.8 MN·m/kg
2.9 MN·m/kg
5.9 MN·m/kg
5.9 MN·m/kg

Thermal Diffusivity

0.1 mm²/s
0.1 mm²/s
0.1 mm²/s
0.3 mm²/s

Same in both: Thermal Shock Resistance Index 0

Strength versus weight

Yield strength against density for every polymer grade in the FabDigit library; the compared grades are highlighted. Up and left is stronger for its weight.

0.1110100123Density (g/cm³)Yield strength (MPa) — log scale

Manufacturing and finishing

CapabilityUPVinyl EsterSMCBMC
Default condition
Relative cost$ Budget$$ Standard$$ Standard$$ Standard
Min. machined wall
Best machined surface

Ready to make it?

Upload a CAD file and FabDigit prices the part in UP and Vinyl Ester side by side — material, machining time, tolerance and finish in one quote. Certified material data ships with the order on request.

Typical handbook values for the conditions named above, normalised for comparison. Hardness on non-Brinell scales is converted approximately for charting only. Request certified data with your order for design-critical properties.